Out of all the possible New Year Resolutions out there, reading more books has to be one of the greatest and noblest goals. Try reading 100 books. That’s only 2 books a week!
Ok, maybe not the ‘noblest goal’. Probably being a better person is the great and noble goal in life. . . But I would definitely argue that a side affect of reading more books, is that you naturally become a better person.
“The person who doesn’t read lives only one life. The reader lives 5,000. Reading is immortality backwards.” ― Umberto Eco
How can we not gain more empathy towards our fellow humans as we experience life through other people’s eyes while reading a book?
Benefits of Reading Every Day
- Reading books expands your knowledge and understanding of the world.
- Reading books can help you develop a better writing style and improve communication skills.
- Reading books can help reduce stress levels.
- Books provide an escape from reality and allow readers to visit different worlds and experience new perspectives.
- Reading books can help improve focus, concentration, and mental clarity by engaging both sides of the brain at once.
- Reading books encourages critical thinking and analyzing situations from different angles which is beneficial in problem-solving scenarios.
- Books provide valuable life lessons that will stay with you long after you’re finished reading them.
- Reading allows readers to gain new outlooks on life, helping them to become more tolerant and open-minded individuals.
- Books often contain rich conversations between characters, which may give readers insight into how other people think and act in certain situations or circumstances they haven’t experienced themselves yet.
- Lastly, reading for pleasure helps promote empathy as readers are invited to view the world through another character’s lens which broadens their understanding of different cultures and ideologies around the world!
2 years ago, i challenged my whole family to each read 100 books that year. I also bought each person a 100 page book journal. The requirement was for them to read the book, AND write it down.
About half of the family finished the goal. But the book journals remained virtually untouched. They wrote the titles, and that’s about it.
Why?
Because the pages were too long, and the things they were supposed to fill out were kind of ridiculous. Why would anybody want to write down 100 ISBN numbers?
A Journal That Makes Sense
So the next year, I got them this version (picture below), which is much easier to use. Each book report is only half a page. You only need a title, author, and a few sentences of what you think about the book, and you are done.
It also has a master list in the beginning, where you can write down the 100 books you’ve read.
And that’s it! sometimes simpler is better.
There is an adult version (pick it up here)
And a child version. The child version has 3 boxes where the child can share 3 things about the book – the beginning, middle, and end. Sometimes my 6 year old wrote 1 or 2 words in each box, and sometimes he drew pictures.
This book works for kids who are just new to reading, or who are having books read to them. It also comes with a circle at the top where the child can put a sticker, or draw a happy or frowny face depending on if they liked the book or not.
This year, these books really were the key to success!
Can You Read 100 Books In 1 Year?
Some people feel really intimidated by the idea of 100 books in 1 year. But that is roughly just 2 books a week. And I found that this is totally doable no matter what the age, as long as you stick to your reading level. . . or even possibly the level lower than you.
My little kids needed the books read to them. It included picture books.
My budding and intermediate reader had a rule that it had to contain chapters. . . So yes, there were a few times where my 11 year old read books like magic treehouse to get to his 100. But that wasn’t the only books he read.
My high schooler didn’t have that option. . . But she is also a freakin reading genius. She picked up her first book and started reading when she was 3. (This is how I teach my 3 year olds to read). And she reads 120 more words per minute than I do!
She does a combination of assigned books and books for fun. . . She hit 100 books by August.
Record Your Book Impressions AND Talk About Them!
If I really want to become a better person by reading, the key is to also talk about the lessons you learned while reading the book! If you spend zero time pondering about your experience, and move on quickly to the next read, you’ll forget what the last book was even about! (trust me, I know this all too well).
the best and most meaningful and life-changing discussions I have had with my teenagers and children, are when we discuss the pros and cons of the books they read.
My daughter (and I) love young adult fantasy/romance novels. But you can bet we point out the dumb relationship situations, or the red flags. And now, without every having to give her lectures, she is more aware of how a good relationship should look like. . . The point is, you can learn powerful lessons from any book if you discuss it!
Have I convinced you yet that this is the best New Year’s Resolution you can choose?
Tips for accomplishing 100 books in 1 year
- Set your rules (like only chapter books count)
- pick 8 books a month (8×12 is 96, so start with 9 books for the first few months)
- Keep those books by your bedstand or wherever you will be reminded daily
- Commit to reading 1/3 of the book a day. (200 pages? that’s only 66 pages you have to read today)
- Keep your reading journal (with a pen) on top of your pile of books. That way it is a constant reminder to fill it in as you go.
- Pick a reward or a goal buddy to help you keep on track.
- Mix the sizes of your books. . . (Don’t pick Les Miserables and War and Peace to read in the same month.)
- Take advantage of daily reminders and happy affirmations (instead of ‘ugh, I have to read’ pick up the book and think ‘yes! the best part of my day, I am so excited I get to read!’
- Check out these awesome Etsy Book Bookmarks (bookmarks about books!) you can print off a bunch of them and put them in all the books you are planning on reading)
- While at my Etsy store, go ahead and pick up a “Books And Bliss Mug‘ which will help with your daily motivation (shameless self-promotion link)
- Make sure to brag on social media when you have accomplished your reading goals! (Our world would be such an awesome place if we shared more consistently about what we read instead of what we ate, or what we hate.)
Make this goal. Grab these Book Journals (Adult) (child), or at the very least, write the books down you read this year. And enjoy becoming a better person with very little effort!
